Method and apparatus for presenting dynamic media content

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top-box (STB) comprising a controller to analyze media content provided by a media content provider, wherein the media content is scheduled content with limited temporal accessibility, select at least a portion of the media content and at least one recipient media device to receive the portion of the media content, the selection of the portion of the media content being based on the analysis of the media content, transmit the portion of the media content to a DVR, wherein the DVR stores the portion of the media content, and transmit a metadata pointer associated with the portion of the media content stored in the DVR to a server, wherein a request to accept the portion of the media content is received by the at least one recipient media device via the server, and wherein the portion of the media content is retrieved from the DVR by the server based on the metadata pointer when the at least one recipient media device accepts the request. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to the presentation of mediacontent and more specifically to a method and apparatus for presentingdynamic media content.

BACKGROUND

The Internet and other networks provide users with a means forexperiencing and sharing various types of media content. The mediacontent can often include audio content, video content, text content,still image content, and/or combinations thereof. Other media contentproviding sources can include Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), cableTV, and satellite TV. Users of these and other media content sources cansearch these sources for desired content. Often times, the content canbe static content, which can be readily accessible by a user, or dynamiccontent, which can be scheduled content that can be temporary in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting withthe communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of an system for presentingdynamic media content, the system operating in portions of thecommunication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating inportions of the communications systems of FIGS. 1-2 and the system ofFIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a method includingselecting at least a portion of media content and at least one recipientmedia device to receive the portion of the media content, transmittingthe portion of the media content to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR),wherein the DVR stores the portion of the media content, andtransmitting a metadata pointer associated with the portion of the mediacontent to a server, wherein a request to accept the portion of themedia content is received by the at least one recipient media device,and wherein the metadata pointer is stored at the server and the portionof the media content is retrieved by the server from the DVR based onthe metadata pointer when the at least one recipient media deviceaccepts the request.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a set-top-box(STB) comprising a controller to analyze media content provided by amedia content provider, wherein the media content is scheduled contentwith limited temporal accessibility, select at least a portion of themedia content and at least one recipient media device to receive theportion of the media content, the selection of the portion of the mediacontent being based on the analysis of the media content, transmit theportion of the media content to a DVR, wherein the DVR stores theportion of the media content, and transmit a metadata pointer associatedwith the portion of the media content stored in the DVR to a server,wherein a request to accept the portion of the media content is receivedby the at least one recipient media device via the server, and whereinthe portion of the media content is retrieved from the DVR by the serverbased on the metadata pointer when the at least one recipient mediadevice accepts the request.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a recipientcommunications device (RCD) comprising a controller to receive a requestfrom an initiating communications device (ICD) to accept media contentselected by the ICD, wherein the media content is stored on a DVRoperably coupled to the ICD upon selection by the ICD, transmit anacceptance in response to the request to a server operably coupled tothe ICD, wherein a metadata pointer associated with the media content isstored on the server upon receiving the acceptance, and receive themedia content from the server, wherein the server retrieves the mediacontent from the DVR based on the metadata pointer.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a networkelement comprising a controller to receive a metadata pointer associatedwith media content from an ICD when the media content is selected by theICD for transmission to a RCD, retrieve the media content from a DVRoperably coupled to the ICD based on the metadata pointer when the RCDprovides an acceptance for the media content, and transmit the retrievedmedia content to the RCD.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail acomputer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions toreceive media content from an ICD when the media content is selected bythe ICD for transmission to a RCD, store the received media content, andreceive a signal from a server to transmit the stored media content whenthe server receives an acceptance to a request for the media contentfrom the RCD, wherein the media content is located by the server basedon a metadata pointer associated with the media content.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcast mediasystem. The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO)110 with at least one super headend office server (SHS) 111 whichreceives media content from satellite and/or terrestrial communicationsystems. In the present context, media content can represent audiocontent, moving image content such as videos, still image content, orcombinations thereof. The SHS server 111 can forward packets associatedwith the media content to video head-end servers (VHS) 114 via a networkof video head-end offices (VHO) 112 according to a common multicastcommunication protocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast programs via an accessnetwork 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (such as a common residential or commercial gateway). Theaccess network 118 can represent a group of digital subscriber lineaccess multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a servicearea interface that provide broadband services over optical links orcopper twisted pairs 119 to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can usecommon communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 107 (such as aninfrared or RF remote control).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108 canutilize tethered interface technologies (such as coaxial or phone linewiring) or can operate over a common wireless access protocol. Withthese interfaces, unicast communications can be invoked between themedia processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media system forservices such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 130 a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing portal services over an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices 108 or wirelesscommunication devices 116 by way of a wireless access base station 117operating according to common wireless access protocols such as WirelessFidelity (WiFi), or cellular communication technologies (such as GSM,CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, and so on).

The first communication system 100 can also include a Digital VideoRecorder (DVR) 135. The DVR 135 can be operably coupled to at least oneof the STBs 106 and can be either a standalone device or integrated aspart of a STB 106. Notably, the DVR 135 can be utilized to capture andstore various types of media content to a disk/hard drive contained inthe DVR 135. The media content can include audio content, text content,video content, still image content, and/or combinations thereof. A usercan select content listed or otherwise displayed on media device 108 fortransmission to another device of the user and/or to another deviceassociated with another user. When the content is selected by the user,the STB 106 can store the selected content into the DVR 135 inpreparation for transmission to the other device.

Another distinct portion of the computing devices 130 can function as abackend server (herein referred to as server 130). The server 130 canuse common computing and communication technology to perform thefunction of distributing media content and/or other content among usersutilizing the first communication system 100. Notably, the server 130can be operably coupled to the DVR 135 and the STBs 106 via accessnetwork 118. Additionally, the server 130 can be configured to receivemetadata pointers from the STBs 106 pointing to data stored in the DVR136 and/or the STBs 106.

It will be appreciated by an artisan of ordinary skill in the art that asatellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115supplying media content can be intercepted by a common satellite dishreceiver 131 coupled to the building 102. Modulated signals interceptedby the satellite dish receiver 131 can be submitted to the mediaprocessors 106 for generating broadcast channels which can be presentedat the media devices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped witha broadband port to the ISP network 132 to enable infrastructureservices such as VoD and EPG described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital broadcast distributionsystem such as cable TV system 133 can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system described above. In this embodiment the cable TV system 133can provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media services.

It follows from the above illustrations that the present disclosure canapply to any present or future interactive over-the-air or landlinemedia content services.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200.employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. Communication system 200 can be overlaid or operably coupledwith communication system 100 as another representative embodiment ofcommunication system 100.

Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other commonnetwork elements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 canestablish communications between IMS compliant communication devices(CD) 201, 202, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205,and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 220 coupled to a PSTN network 260.

IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with acorresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with at the HSS240. To initiate a communication session between CDs, an originating IMSCD 201 can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message toan originating P-CSCF 204 which communicates with a correspondingoriginating S-CSCF 206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries tothe ENUM system 230 to translate an E. 164 telephone number in the SIPINVITE to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS compliant.

The SIP URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submita query to the HSS 240 to identify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associatedwith a terminating IMS CD such as reference 202. Once identified, theI-CSCF 207 can submit the SIP INVITE to the terminating S-CSCF 214. Theterminating S-CSCF 214 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 216associated with the terminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 then signals theCD 202 to establish communications.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such asreferences 203 or 205, the ENUM system 230 can respond with anunsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originating S-CSCF206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout Gateway ControlFunction (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call to theterminating PSTN CD by common means over the PSTN network 260.

The aforementioned communication process is symmetrical. Accordingly,the terms “originating” and “terminating” in FIG. 2 are interchangeable.It is further noted that communication system 200 can be adapted tosupport video conferencing by way of common protocols such as H.323. Inaddition, communication system 200 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs201, 203 the multimedia and Internet services of communication system100.

The server 130 of FIG. 1 can be operably coupled to the secondcommunication system 200 for purposes similar to those described above.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal 302 which canoperate from the computing devices 130 described earlier incommunication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The portal 302 can beused for managing services of communication systems 100-200. The portal302 can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with a commonInternet browser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer™ using anInternet-capable communication device such as those described for FIGS.1-2. The portal 302 can be configured, for example, to access a mediaprocessor 106 and services managed thereby such as a DVR, a VoD catalog,an EPG, a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures, audiorecordings, etc.) stored in the media processor, provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 400.Communication device 400 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the communication devices of FIGS. 1-2. Thecommunication device 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 402 (herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, apower supply 414, a location receiver 416, and a controller 406 formanaging operations thereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-rangeor long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi,Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellularcommunication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologiescan include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE,EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, and next generation cellular wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 402 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCPIP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, joystick, mouse, ornavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 400 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 canrepresent a numeric dialing keypad commonly used by phones, and/or aQwerty keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include adisplay 410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display),OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technologyfor conveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. Inan embodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or allof the keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display.

The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. Theaudio system 412 can also be used for voice recognition applications.The UI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as a chargedcoupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 414 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 400 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The location receiver 416 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver for identifying a location of the communication device400 based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites,thereby facilitating common location services such as navigation.

The communication device 400 can use the transceiver 402 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi or Bluetooth access point bycommon power sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA) or timeof flight (TOF). The controller 406 can utilize computing technologiessuch as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or avideo processor with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM,SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the portablecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as agaming console and a media player.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 500 for presentingdynamic media content, the system operable in portions of thecommunication systems of FIGS. 1-2. The system 500 can include a STB502, which can include an integrated DVR. However, the DVR need not bean integrated device, and can instead be a standalone device, which canbe operably coupled to the STB 502. The STB 502 can be operably coupledto a display device 504, which can be utilized to display various typesof media content supplied to the STB 502 by a media content provider(not explicitly shown). Notably, the media content supplied by the mediacontent provider can include audio content, text content, video content,still image content, and/or combinations thereof.

The STB 502 can be operably coupled to a network 506, which can enablethe STB 502 to access a server 508. The server 508 can act as anintermediary between the STB 502 and the other devices in the system500. Additionally, the system 500 can include a STB 510, which can beoperably coupled to a display device 512. The system 500 can alsoinclude a computing device 514 and a mobile device 516. These additionaldevices can be operably coupled to STB 502 via the network 506. Thedisplay devices 504 and 512 can include monitors, televisions, and othermeans for displaying media content. Also, the computing device 514 caninclude computers, laptops, tablet computers, personal digitalassistants (PDA), and other computing devices. The mobile device 516 caninclude a cellular phone, PDA, mobile computer, or other mobile device.Notably, the devices in the system 500 can be configured to operate inan interactive television (iTV) network, which can include IPTV,interactive cable television, and interactive satellite television.

A user utilizing STB 502 can select content to be transmitted to STB510, computing device 514, and/or mobile device 516. The user canspecify which recipient device or devices are to receive the content.Once the user selects content, the selected content can be stored in theDVR and a metadata pointer associated with the selected content can betransmitted by the STB 502 to the server 508. The metadata pointer cancorrespond to a file name associated with the portion of the selectedmedia content, a location in the DVR, a uniform resource locator (URL),a uniform resource identifier (URI), and/or another identifier utilizedfor locating the selected media content. The server 508 can send arequest to the specified recipient devices to accept the selectedcontent. If the recipient device accepts the request, the metadatapointer can be stored at the server 508 and the server 508 can retrievethe content from the DVR by utilizing the metadata pointer. Once theserver has retrieved the content, the server 508 can transmit thecontent to the recipient devices, which can then present content.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative method 600 that operates in portions ofthe communication system of FIGS. 1-2 and FIG. 5. Method 600 can beginwith step 602 in which an ICD can analyze media content provided by amedia content provider. The ICD can be a STB (e.g. STB 502 and STB 510),a computing device, a mobile device, another communications device, orany device in system 500. As mentioned above, the media content caninclude audio content, video content, still image content, text content,and a combination thereof. The media content can also be content that isdynamic in nature. Dynamic content can be content that is temporary innature, real-time content, and/or scheduled content such as televisionshows, radio programs, scheduled movies, and the like. For example, auser can utilize STB 502 to browse and analyze various types of mediacontent shown on display device 504. If the user is watching atelevision program that is playing in real-time, the user can search forcontent from the show that he would like to send to another deviceand/or another user.

At step 604, the ICD can select at least a portion of the media contentalong with one or more RCDs to receive the portion of the media content.The RCD can be STB 502, STB 510, computing device 514, and/or mobiledevice 516. Notably, the user can utilize STB 502 or another ICD toselect the portion of the media content and to select one or more RCDsfrom a graphical user interface, an EPG, and/or a media on-demandinterface. The RCDs can be identified and associated with the ICD basedon a user profile of the ICD. Included in the user profile can be anidentifier associated with each RCD stored in the user profile, anidentifier associated with the ICD, account information, and any otherinformation. The identifier associated with each RCD can correspond to aMedia Access Control (MAC) address of the RCD, an Internet Protocol (IP)address of the RCD, a global unique identifier (GUID), a name associatedwith each RCD, and the identifier associated with the STB can correspondto at least one of a MAC address of the STB, an IP address of the STB, aGUID of the STB, and a name associated with the STB. Also, the ICD cancommunicate with each RCD based on the identifier associated with theRCD stored in the user profile.

Using the previous example, if the user is watching a currently playingtelevision program and sees an image that he would like to send to hisfriend or to another device of the user, the user can pause the programand rewind to the point of interest where the user saw the image. Theuser utilize the ICD to select the image at the point of interest andcan select from the user's user profile one or more RCDs to receive theimage. Additionally, the user can select a media content type associatedwith the selected portion of the media content by using the ICD. Forexample, the user can be given the option of transmitting only the audioof the selected content, the video of the selected content, the text ofthe selected content, a portion of the content, or a combination ofaudio, video, and text of the selected content.

Once the ICD has selected the portion of the media content and one ormore RCDs to receive the media content, the ICD can transmit theselected portion of the media content to a DVR at step 606. The DVR canbe integrated into the ICD, such as in STB 502, or can be a separatedevice operably coupled to the ICD. The selected media content can bestored in the DVR so that the content may be retrieved by the otherdevices of the system 500. As the ICD selects additional content, theDVR can be configured to store the additional content and can beconfigured to maintain a library including all media content selected bythe ICD. In the above example, the selected image from the televisionprogram can be transmitted to the DVR for storage. At step 608, the ICDcan transmit a metadata pointer associated with the selected portion ofmedia content to a server, such as server 508. The metadata pointer cancorrespond to a file name associated with the portion of the mediacontent, a location in the DVR where the content is stored, a uniformresource locator (URL), a uniform resource identifier (URI), and othermeans for identifying and locating the selected media content.

The server 508 can then transmit a request to the one or more selectedRCDs to accept the selected portion of the media content from the ICD atstep 610. At step 612, the server 508 can determine whether the one ormore RCDs accepted the request. If an RCD denies the request to acceptthe media content, the server 508 can send a signal to the ICDindicating that the RCD did not authorize delivery of the media contentat step 614. However, if the RCD accepts the request from the server508, the server 508 can be configured to then store the metadata pointerin response to the acceptance at step 616. At step 618, the server 508can retrieve the portion of the media content from the DVR by utilizingthe metadata pointer. Using the preceding example, if the RCD acceptsthe request to view the image selected by the user of the ICD from thetelevision program, the server 508 can retrieve the image from the DVRso that it may be sent to the RCD. At step 620, the server 508 cantransmit the retrieved portion of media content to any RCD accepting therequest.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, in an embodiment, theRCD can receive the request from the server 508 while the RCD ispresenting a media program. If the user of the RCD is watching atelevision program or some other content, the request can be displayedon the monitor/screen of the RCD while the program is playing. However,the RCD can also pause the currently playing media program when the RCDreceives the request. If the user pauses the media program, the mediacontent from the point of the pause can be recorded in a DVR operablycoupled to the RCD.

The request from the server 508 can include a sample of the selectedportion of media content so that the user of the RCD knows what themedia content is or what the media content relates to. The sample of theselected portion of content can also be accompanied by text describingthe content and a prompt to accept or deny the request. For example, aportion of a video clip can be sent to the RCD and the clip can beaccompanied by text describing the content of the clip. If the videoclip was a racing clip, the accompanying text could say, “User A wantsto send you a racing clip. Please accept or deny this request.” The userof the RCD can accept or deny the request by selecting graphical buttonsdisplayed on the display of the RCD.

When the user accepts the content, the content can be overlaid on top ofthe currently playing media program in a manner that will enable to userof the RCD to view the accepted media content and the media programsimultaneously. If the user had paused the media program, the RCD candisplay the accepted media content while the media program is paused.When the user is done experiencing the media content, the RCD can removethe accepted media content from the display, retrieve the media contentrecorded in the DVR from the point of the pause, and resume the mediaprogram from the point of the pause.

In an embodiment, the method 600 and the system 500 can be modified toperform the operative functions of the invention without the use of theserver 508. The STBs 502 and 510, the computing device 512, and/or themobile device 516 can be utilized to receive and store the metadatapointers and perform the other operative functions that the server 508performs. In another embodiment, in the case where the ICD and the RCDbelong to the same user, the RCD can be configured to automaticallyaccept any incoming requests for media content.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosurewithout departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, thereader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding ofthe breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 700 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 700 may include a processor 702 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 704 and a static memory 706, which communicate with each othervia a bus 708. The computer system 700 may further include a videodisplay unit 610 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system700 may include an input device 712 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 714 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 716, a signal generationdevice 718 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 720.

The disk drive unit 716 may include a machine-readable medium 722 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 724)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 724may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 704, the static memory 706, and/or within the processor 702during execution thereof by the computer system 700. The main memory 704and the processor 702 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 724, or that which receives and executes instructions 724from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 726 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 726 using the instructions 724. Theinstructions 724 may further be transmitted or received over a network626 via the network interface device 720.

While the machine-readable medium 722 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape;and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives is considered a distributionmedium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of amachine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A set-top-box (STB), comprising a controller to: analyze mediacontent provided by a media content provider, wherein the media contentis scheduled content with limited temporal accessibility; select atleast a portion of the media content and at least one recipient mediadevice to receive the portion of the media content, the selection of theportion of the media content being based on the analysis of the mediacontent; transmit the portion of the media content to a Digital VideoRecorder (DVR), wherein the DVR stores the portion of the media content;and transmit a metadata pointer associated with the portion of the mediacontent stored in the DVR to a server, wherein a request to accept theportion of the media content is received by the at least one recipientmedia device via the server, and wherein the portion of the mediacontent is retrieved by the server from the DVR based on the metadatapointer when the at least one recipient media device accepts therequest.
 2. The STB of claim 1, wherein the portion of the media contentis a plurality of portions of the media content, and wherein the DVR isoperable to maintain a library comprising the plurality of portions ofthe media content.
 3. The STB of claim 1, wherein the server transmitsthe retrieved portion of media content to the at least one recipientmedia device.
 4. The STB of claim 1, wherein the media content comprisesat least one of audio content, video content, still image content, andtext content.
 5. The STB of claim 1, wherein the STB operates in aninteractive television (iTV) network, wherein the iTV network comprisesat least one of internet protocol television (IPTV), interactive cabletelevision, and interactive satellite television.
 6. The STB of claim 1,wherein the controller is operable to select the portion of the mediacontent and the at least one recipient media device from at least one ofa graphical user interface, an electronic programming guide, and a mediaon-demand interface.
 7. The STB of claim 1, wherein the controller isoperable to identify the at least one recipient media device andassociate the at least one recipient device to the STB based on a userprofile associated with the STB.
 8. The STB of claim 7, wherein the userprofile comprises an identifier associated with each recipient mediadevice of the at least one recipient media device, an identifierassociated with the STB, and wherein the controller is operable tocommunicate with the each recipient media device based on the associatedidentifier.
 9. The STB of claim 8, wherein the identifier associatedwith each recipient media device corresponds to at least one of a MediaAccess Control (MAC) address, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, aglobal unique identifier (GUID), a name associated with each recipientmedia device, and wherein the identifier associated with the STBcorresponds to at least one of a MAC address of the STB, an IP addressof the STB, a GUID of the STB, and a name associated with the STB. 10.The STB of claim 1, wherein at least one of the server and thecontroller is operable to store the metadata pointer when the at leastone recipient media device accepts the request.
 11. The STB of claim 1,wherein the metadata pointer corresponds to at least one of a file nameassociated with the portion of the media content, a location in the DVR,a uniform resource locator, and a uniform resource identifier.
 12. TheSTB of claim 1, wherein the at least one recipient media devicecomprises at least one of a cellular phone, a computer, a personaldigital assistant, an STB, and a mobile device.
 13. A recipientcommunications device (RCD), comprising a controller to: receive arequest from an initiating communications device (ICD) to accept mediacontent selected by the ICD, wherein the media content is stored on aDigital Video Recorder (DVR) operably coupled to the ICD upon selectionby the ICD; transmit an acceptance in response to the request to aserver operably coupled to the ICD, wherein a metadata pointerassociated with the media content is stored on the server upon receivingthe acceptance; and receive the media content from the server, whereinthe server retrieves the media content from the DVR based on themetadata pointer.
 14. The RCD of claim 13, wherein the RCD comprises atleast one of a cellular phone, a computer, a personal digital assistant,an STB, and a mobile device.
 15. The RCD of claim 13, wherein thecontroller is operable to receive the request while presenting a mediaprogram, and wherein the controller is operable to pause the mediaprogram upon receiving the request.
 16. The RCD of claim 13, wherein thecontroller is operable to receive the request while presenting a mediaprogram, and wherein the controller is operable to present the requestwhile presenting the media program.
 17. The RCD of claim 13, wherein themedia content comprises at least one of real-time content and scheduledcontent with limited accessibility.
 18. A network element, comprising acontroller to: receive a metadata pointer associated with media contentfrom an initiating communications device (ICD) when the media content isselected by the ICD for transmission to a recipient communicationsdevice (RCD); retrieve the media content from a Digital Video Recorder(DVR) operably coupled to the ICD based on the metadata pointer when theRCD provides an acceptance for the media content; and transmit theretrieved media content to the RCD.
 19. The network element of claim 18,wherein the controller is adapted to: transmit a request to accept themedia content to the RCD; and receive the acceptance in response to therequest from the RCD, wherein the controller is operable to store themetadata pointer upon receiving the acceptance.
 20. The network elementof claim 18, wherein the network element operates in an interactivetelevision (iTV) network, wherein the iTV network supplies at least oneof internet protocol television (IPTV), interactive cable television,and interactive satellite television.
 21. A method, comprising:selecting at least a portion of media content and at least one recipientmedia device to receive the portion of the media content; transmittingthe portion of the media content to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR),wherein the DVR stores the portion of the media content; andtransmitting a metadata pointer associated with the portion of the mediacontent to a server, wherein a request to accept the portion of themedia content is received by the at least one recipient media device,and wherein the metadata pointer is stored at the server and the portionof the media content is retrieved from the DVR by the server based onthe metadata pointer when the at least one recipient media deviceaccepts the request.
 22. The method of claim 21, comprising selectingthe portion of the media content and the at least one recipient mediadevice from at least one of a graphical user interface, an electronicprogramming guide, and a media on-demand interface.
 23. The method ofclaim 21, comprising identifying the at least one recipient media deviceand associating the at least one recipient device to the STB based on auser profile associated with the STB.
 24. A computer-readable storagemedium, comprising computer instructions to: receive media content froman initiating communications device (ICD) when the media content isselected by the ICD for transmission to a recipient communicationsdevice (RCD); store the received media content; and receive a signalfrom a server to transmit the stored media content when the serverreceives an acceptance to a request for the media content from the RCD,wherein the media content is located by the server based on a metadatapointer associated with the media content.
 25. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 24, comprising computer instructions to transmitthe stored media content to the server, wherein the media content istransmitted by the server to the RCD.